The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 4

As Raul summoned the status window, a translucent hologram screen appeared in front of his eyes.

[Name]: Raul

[Level]: 19 (Hardcore Mode)

[Occupation]: Training Knight (Beginner Swordsman), Beginner Psychokinetic

[Affiliation]: Count Ashton’s Household

[Title]: Youngest Son of the Count Ashton’s Household

[Stats]

[Strength 22]

[Agility 25]

[Stamina 19]

[Intelligence 15]

[Willpower 34]

[Magic Power 29]

[Spiritual Power 35]

[Sense 30]

* Unique Traits

Psychokinesis Meister (S+),

Distinguished Swordsmanship Family Lineage (A),

??? (EX),

??? (EX),

??? (EX)

After scanning through the contents, Raul wore a reasonably satisfied expression.

“To think I’ve grown this much in just a month… I guess I’m finally fit to be called a human.”

The moment he first checked the status window, Raul couldn’t help but doubt his eyes.

[Lv. 5]

His level was embarrassingly no different from that of the servants passing by the mansion.

Furthermore, his stats were in a more miserable state.

Being below 10 in strength, agility, and stamina, essential for any swordsman.

In Connect, stats grow automatically based on training, experience, and talent, unlike other typical games where players distribute points manually.

Hence, simply raising one’s level doesn’t necessarily mean a steady increase in stats.

“This game has quite a number of realistic aspects.”

As a result, most of his day had to be dedicated to training and sparring to boost his stats.

Making his frail body move even slightly was an incredibly painful ordeal.

However, feeling a sense of pride after seeing his somewhat grown stats was undeniable.

“The journey is still long…”

At 15, considering it’s the age where one grows significantly, his physical condition was still significantly inferior compared to other tournament participants, which remained an ongoing issue to address.

“Huh. Stats aside, what’s up with these traits?”

There were no less than five unique traits listed.

Considering that regular players only had one, this was an extraordinary occurrence.

Among the five traits, [Psychokinesis Meister (S+)] was something Raul, previously Bae Dohyun, had possessed.

With psychokinesis, he had been able to secure a top position in the world of Connect.

Given that various skill combinations based on psychokinesis were his forte, expectations were high for this life as well.

[Distinguished Swordsmanship Family Lineage (A)]

It was clear that this was a trait originally possessed by Raul. Despite this trait, it was frustrating how he had such a poor physique and swordsmanship skill level…

The remaining three traits were unknown at the moment. Although there were guesses, they were merely speculation.

“A question mark means it’ll reveal itself eventually. Maybe I should focus a bit more on leveling up?”

Though his gaze lingered for a moment, Raul soon let go of his hesitance and closed the status window, kicking off the bed. His wounds were fully healed, and it was time to prepare for tomorrow’s match.

“Let’s see, who will be my opponent?”

His mind was already filled with thoughts of the upcoming match.

* * *

Despite advancing to the round of 16, evaluations of Raul’s abilities hadn’t changed much.

His perseverance and mental strength were acknowledged, but his objective skill level still seemed lacking compared to other participants.

“Can Sir Raul win this time as well?”

“It might be tough. Last time, it was only because the foolish Edmund got cocky and let his guard down, but this time might be different.”

“True. It’s only because his sword luckily slipped through the neck guard at the last moment.”

Many attributed his victory more to luck than skill.

Indeed, the experts’ rankings had him at 16th place, and the betting odds in the gambling houses were the highest for all matches.

It indicated that very few had bet on Raul.

Crash!!

“That’s it! The winner is Raul!!!”

Despite winning his match in the round of 16, the perception of Raul remained unchanged.

“Seriously, how could one trip over a rock at that moment?”

“Exactly. It seems like the heavens are aiding young master Raul.”

“Nevertheless, the young master is incredible. To last more than 20 minutes in both the first and second matches!”

“His persistence is truly unparalleled!!”

Throughout the match in the round of 16, Raul was dominated.

Unlike before, he didn’t roll on the ground, but his armor was torn to shreds, and he was bleeding in several places.

His victory in the match was entirely due to his opponent’s misstep at the end.

Thus, no one believed Raul would win in the quarter-finals.

Apart from Raul, the quarter-finalists had all sufficiently proven their worth, being hopeful prospects capable of wielding mana swords.

“… Unbelievable.”

“Can this really be happening?”

“Even if luck is considered a skill…”

“It’s certain that the young master is born under a lucky star!”

Hence, when Raul won the quarter-final, people were thrown into disarray.

The quarter-final was slightly different from before. For the first time, Raul didn’t sustain any injuries.

However, his armor was still dented in many places, and he spent the entire match on the defensive.

The decisive moment came with a ‘gust of wind’.

As his opponent enveloped his sword with mana for a critical strike, a dust storm struck, blinding him.

Caught off guard and blinking reflexively, Raul’s sword reached his opponent’s neck in that brief moment.

* * *

Knock knock knock.

“Young master, it’s Ivan.”

“Come in.”

Ivan visited Raul in his room after the match.

Dressed in a spotless suit, Ivan was a veteran butler who had managed the Count’s mansion for 25 years and had earned the Count’s trust with his meticulous work.

Known among the servants as the ‘demon butler’ due to his strict nature, Ivan’s expression softened beyond that of a kindly neighborhood grandfather when regarding Raul.

After all, it was Ivan who had raised Raul like his own grandson. Stepping in after Raul’s mother, the Countess, had passed away not long after his birth.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Thanks to your concern, I’m fine. Plus, the priest and healer are on standby, what’s there to worry about?”

For the tournament, they had invited skilled priests and healers from the capital, capable of reattaching limbs, so injuries were not a major concern.

“Still, complacency is dangerous. Remember, there are injuries they can’t heal. Even if the competition is important, I hope you don’t push yourself too hard.”

As Ivan lightly admonished him, Raul scratched his cheek.

‘Seems he watched the match from somewhere. Nevertheless, dealing with Ivan isn’t easy.’

Having spent his previous life as an orphan, Raul found it difficult to interact with someone who offered familial affection and concern.

“Cough. I’ll try to be more careful. But, how did the task I asked for go?”

Watching Raul awkwardly change the subject, Ivan sighed softly and handed over a small piece of paper.

“As you instructed, it has been taken care of. But are you sure this is okay? Up to now is one thing but…”

With Ivan’s worried words, Raul replied with a light laugh.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll definitely win this time. Haven’t I said? I’m going to win this tournament.”

Seeing Raul’s confident expression, Ivan bowed slightly and left the room.

‘That confident look really resembles the young Count. But even if he wins this time, the final opponent is Prince Dion. Can Raul really beat that genius?’

While Ivan supported and believed in Raul wholeheartedly, his mind was still filled with doubts.

Shaking his head, Ivan walked away.

After Ivan left, Raul examined the paper in his hand.

It detailed the amount he had earned through tournament betting and the money he reinvested.

Seeing the amount, which had inflated beyond recognition, Raul smirked, folded the paper neatly, and tucked it into a drawer before sitting back in his chair.

‘Good. The hard-earned acting paid off!’ Although the first match had been like this too, Raul had purposefully prolonged today’s two matches. His defensive maneuvers, his armor ending up in disarray, and his injuries, were all calculated moves. And of course, the elements that ultimately decided the victor were no different.

“Indeed, the residents of Connect are still not accustomed to psychic powers.” The slip of the opponent’s foot during the Round of 16 and the sandstorm blinding the opponent’s eyes in the quarterfinals, both were Raul’s doing, executed with his psychokinesis. Those on the receiving end would certainly feel aggrieved, but in reality, these tactics were often employed by Raul in his previous life.

“Still, I must be careful. For now, my psychic powers cannot be too conspicuous. I must live thoroughly as Raul until players appear.” The saying that a protruding nail gets hammered down wasn’t exclusive to Earth. Moreover, with the county being targeted by someone, it was imperative to have a trump card up his sleeve. This was a time to quietly focus on growth.

“Anyway, I need to secure my initial capital with this opportunity. But the acting ends here. The favor of the territory’s people has been sufficiently drawn. Now, what’s needed is to be recognized for my skill!! Unfortunately for you, Dion, you’ll have to serve as my stepping stone.” A subtle golden glow was leaking from his tightly clenched fist. Whether he knew this fact or not, the fierceness in Raul’s eyes as he gazed out the window was undulating intensely.

* * *

The semifinal match that took place the following day was fairly close. From the start, Raul seriously exchanged swords with his opponent, showcasing evenly matched skills throughout the match. The result was Raul’s victory. He had deliberately exposed weaknesses to deceive his opponent, and the opponent, trapped, had to acknowledge defeat in front of the glinting longsword, sweating coldly.

And finally, the day of the final match dawned. Raul, carrying the enthusiastic support of the spectators on his back, stepped onto the arena.

“Please give us another thrilling match!!”

“Young master Raul~ You’re so amazing!!”

“Lucky you, please win!! I’ve bet my entire salary on you this month!!!”

Perhaps because he showed a decent level of skill during the semifinals, there seemed to be quite a number who were expecting Raul’s victory this time. And, as expected, the majority of the female spectators were going wild for him.

Soon, Dion revealed himself from the opposite side. Unlike Raul, Dion had advanced through the matches swiftly and ruthlessly. Most of those who faced him had been severely injured, with some even losing limbs.

“You’re the best, Dion!! Finish it quickly and win!!!”

“Dion!! Crush your opponent again this time!! Show that third son of a house who knows no fear the taste of defeat!”

Shouts of encouragement from some of the more extreme spectators burst out. However, disapproving glares from the angry women and other spectators quickly subdued their voices. Traditionally, during the festival period, whether in pubs or stands, everyone was guaranteed the freedom to support whomever they liked, as a gesture of consideration from the Count’s family and nobility to let the people comfortably vent their fatigue and dissatisfaction for that moment. Indeed, this governance style was considered natural among the prestigious houses that frequently held swordsmanship tournaments and festivals because it contributed to the excitement of the events and effectively quelled the populace’s complaints.

Step by step.

Dion, having walked up to him, opened his mouth with a menacing expression. “Hey, you weakling. I don’t know how lucky you were to get here, but showing up will soon prove to be the greatest misfortune of your life. And soon those stupid chicks shouting from the stands will realize just how pitiful and wretched you are! I’ll make sure you’re crawling on the ground with your limbs cut off!!”

The trash talk before the duel was spot-on. Though trash talk was permitted to spice up the tournament, it surely served another purpose. After all, in various duels and battlegrounds, it was common practice for knights to demoralize their opponents or distract them with trash talk.

Dion had reportedly shaken many of his adversaries in previous duels with his trash talk. Yet,

“How cute.” To Raul, who had spent over a decade on the battlefield, this was merely amusing. However, Raul said nothing. He simply smirked, idly cleaning his ear as if he was listening to a distant dog barking.

“You insolent brat!!” Furious, Dion clenched his fist and charged, but was only stopped and warned by the knight acting as referee. Meanwhile, as Dion, trembling with resolution, glanced at Raul, who appeared to mock him with his crossed arms, he thought,

“Today, I’ll truly crush that guy!!”

However, Dion was unaware of what fate awaited him in a short while…

(To be continued)